Dual production well packer



Jan. 2, 1968 J. R BROWN DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER 3, Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. l0, 1966 Jan. 2, 1968 J. R. BROWN DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER Filed Feb. 10, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Ian. 2, 1968V 1 R BRQWN v 3,361,211

DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER Filed Feb. 10, 1966 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 j@ MM ATTORN United States Patent O 3,361,211 DUAL PRODUCTION WELL PACKER Joe R. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex. 77024 Filed Feb. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 526,579 14 Claims. (Cl. 166-134) The present invention relates to new and Iuseful improvements in dual-production well packers and particularly t a mechanically set and released dual-production well packer.

The invention is applicable for use in anchoring well devices, such as well packers and the like, or well tubing, within the bore of a well.

In certain dual-production well packers the forces exerted upon the assembly have been carried by only one of the tubular supports. This unequal distribution of tension forces to the two tubular supports causes a bowing of the Well packer assembly. Such bowing results in a cooking of the sealing assembly. When t-he packing element of the sealing assembly is cocked or displaced out of axial alignment with the well bore, the packing element fails to hold well pressures.

This cooking of the packing element occurs in dualproduction well packers whenever one of the tubular supports is slidable in one of the abutments of the support and the other tubular support is secured to both abutments. The unequal distribution of tension forces may occur during setting of the well packer assembly or when the pressure loading held by the assembly is not uniformly distributed to the two tubular supports.

Dual-production well packers, which employ a single set of gripping elements for locking the packer against longitudinal movement in both directions, have come into general use for producing well fluids from two producing formations through independent tubing strings. The particular advantage of a packer shaving the single set of gripping elements locking in both directions is the elimination of radially movable hydraulically actuated hold-down means. Although these packers have been satisfactory under lower pressure conditions, it has been found that under higher pressure conditions the forces increase and tend to place an excessive tension on the single tubing string. Such excessive tension produces the unequal distribution of forces and causes the aforementioned cooking problem. In some instances, the excessive tension may actually bend the tubing string, which is carrying the full load, at a point below the packer assembly.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a dual-production well packer assembly having two tubular supports, which assembly effectively distributes tension forces to both of the tubular supports and thereby eliminates the aforesaid diiiiculty of cooking of the packing element.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanically set and released dual-production well packer allowing the tubing strings to be hung in tension when set.

A further object is to provide a mechanically set and released dual-production well packer in which the tension forces to which the mandrels or tubular supports are subjected are substantially equalized and distributed to both tubular supports, when set, so that the cooking problem is eliminated.

Still another object is to provide an improved mechanically set dual-production well packer holding against longitudinal movement in both directions and utilizing forces developed in both tubular supports to increase the setting force.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dualprod-uction well packer embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the well packer in set position;

FIGURE 3 is another similar view showing the well packer in set position with the second tubing string in tension;

FIGURE 4 is another similar View showing the well packer in released position;

FIGURE 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the well packer taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the well packer taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view of the locking means of the well packer taken along line 7-7 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional View of the well packer taken along line 8-8 in FIGURE l to illustrate the anchoring assembly; and

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view showing the force transmitting means of 'the well packer and taken along line 9-9 in FIGURE 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the well packer as illustrated is designed to be run into a well 4bore defined by the casing C in the drawings, supported in a first tubing string T-1. When the well packer has been lowered to the level at which it is to be set, the second tubing string T-2 is lowered into the well bore and landed in the well packer. The well packer, illustrated in FIGURE l, is positioned in the casing C at the level for setting with the second tubing string T-2 landed. The other components of the well packer are positioned in their running position.

The well packer is provided with a packing assembly P and an anchoring assembly A mounted on the tubular supports or mandrels 10 and 12 at a position between upper abutment 14 and lower abutment 16. The releasing means R holds the lower abutment 16 secured to the tubular support 10 during running and setting of the well packer. Positioned below the lower abutment 16 is the force transmitting means F which provides an engagement between the lower ends of tubular supports 10 and 12 to transmit tension forces in tubular support 12 to tubular support 10. The setting of the well packer is accomplished by the lowering of the upper abutment 14 toward the lower abutment 16. This sets the packing assembly P against the interior of the casing C and moves the gripping elements of the anchoring assembly A outwardly into Ipipe-gripping position with the casing C to hold against longitudinal movement of the well packer in both directions.

As shown in the drawings, the upper abutment 14 includes the one-way locking means 18 and 20 which sursound and engage the tubular supports 10 and 12, respectively, to prevent upward movement of the upper abutment 14 with respect to either of said tubular supports while allowing rel-ative downward movement of such upper abutment 14. The upper abutment 14 includes downwardly and inwardly inclined recesses 22 surrounding the tubular supports 10 and 12. The locking slips 24 are positioned within such recesses 22 and have inwardly and upwardly projecting teeth engaging the tubular supports to allow downward movement of the upper abutment 14 and prevent upward movement of the upper abutment with respect to such tubular supports 10 and 12.

The locking means 1S and 2G include the locking slips 24 and the retainer plate 26 containing the springs 2S which urge the locking slips 24 downward in the inclined recesses 22 to maintain the teeth of the locking slips 24 in engagement with tubular supports 10 and 12 at all times. Means, such as screw 30, secure retainer plate 26 to upper abutment 14 as best seen in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

Means is provided on said tubular support 12 to engage said upper abutment 14 for moving the upper abutment 14 downwardly for setting of the well packer. Such means is provided by the head 32 whi-ch is secured to the tubular support 12 and in running position engages the upper abutment 14. Head 32 is provided with the bore 34 and pin 36 for the landing of the second tubular support T-2 with pin 36 engaging in the J-slot 38. Suitable sealing means is provided to seal between head 32 and the portion of second tubing string T-2 engaged therein. Tubular support 12 is secured to head 32 in communication with second tubing string T-2. Tubular support 1t) is connected to first tubing string T-1 at a position above head 32 and extends downwardly through head 32, being releasably secured thereto by the shear pin 40.

The packing assembly P is mounted in sliding relation to tubular supports 10 and 12 immediately below upper abutment 14 and includes packing elements 42, upper follower 44 and lower follower 46. The packing elements 42 are of the usual type which, when compressed longitudinally of the well packer, will expand outwardly into sealing engagement with the interior of the casing C to prevent fluid communication across said packing assembly P.

The anchoring assembly A is positioned around tubular supports 1i) and 12 immediately below the lower follower 46 of the packing assembly P and includes upper expander 4S, cage 50, gripping elements 52 and the lower expander 54. The lower expander 54 forms the lower abutment 16 since it is releasably connected to the tubular support 10 by the release means R. The connection designated release means R is shown to be a threaded connection which will normally be left-hand, low-friction threads for ease of operation of the release means R by rotating the first tubing string T-l and tubular support 10. The expanders 48 and 54 are provided with inclined surfaces in engagement with the inclined inner surfaces on the gripping elements 52. Thus, movement of the expanders together wedges the gripping elements 52 outwardly through the windows 56 in the cage 5f) into pipegripping position with the interior of the casing C.

ln running position, the cage 50 is releasably secured to the upper expander 48 by the shear pin 58. Additionally, the upwardly facing shoulder 611 on upper expander 4S is in engagement with the downwardly facing shoulder 62 on cage 50. The guide pins 64, as shown in FIGURE 8, are secured in lower expander 54 and extended outwardly therefrom into sliding engagement with slots 66 irl cage to prevent relative rotation of the cage 50 of anchoring assembly A. The shoulders 68 and 76 on tubular supports and 12 are adapted to engage the lower surface of upper expander 4S during release.

The force transmitting means F is provided to transmit tension forces in tubular support 12 to tubular support 10 to thereby equalize such tension forces and prevent the cocking of the well packer. The force transmitting means F includes the plate 72 which surrounds tubular supports 10 and 12. Lower sub '74 is secured to the lower end of tubular support 12 and provides upwardly facing shoulder '76 on which the plate 72 normally abuts. The tubular support 12 is free to slide downwardly through the plate 72. The nut 78 is threadedly secured to tubular support 10. The flange 80 on nut 78 engages bearing ring 82 which is positioned on the upper surface of plate 72. By tightening nut 78, the plate 72 is forced downwardly onto the shoulder 76 so that tension in tubular support 12 is exerted through plate 72 and nut 7S to tubular support 11B.

In operation, the well packer is set by lowering tubing string T-2. When the weight of tubing string T-2 on head 32 is sufficient to shear the pin 4f) and the head 32, the tubing string T-2 and the tubular support 12 move down, moving the upper abutment 14 down. This shortening of the distance between the upper and lower abutments sets the packing and anchoring assemblies. The initial movement moves the cage 5l) and gripping eler rents 52 onto the lower expander 54, to at least partially set the gripping elements 52 into pipe-gripping position with the casing C. Further movement creates a force sufficient to shear pin 5S and move upper expander 48 under the gripping elements 52. When the gripping elements 52 are set, further movement of the anchoring assembly A is resisted and the packing elements 42 are compressed into sealing engagement with the casing C. This set position of the packing and anchoring assemblies is illustrated in FIGURE 2. The one-way locking means 18 locks the upper abutment 14 in its lowest position with respect to tubular support 10 to prevent accidental unsetting of the well packer. The weight of second tubing string T-2 used for setting is resisted by the first tubing string T-l. The tension in rst tubing string T-1 is exerted upwardly to wedge lower expander 54 more tightly under gripping elements 52.

ln setting, the shoulder 76 moves out of engagement from the plate 72 of the force transmitting means F. To render the force transmitting means F effective after setting, the second tubing string is lifted until the shoulder 76 engages the plate 72 to the position illustrated in FXGURE 3. In this position, the tubing strings may be supported at the surface. When desired, the tubing string T-Z may be hung in tension by exerting an upward force on tubing string T-2 after shoulder 76 has engaged the plate 72, and then the tubing string T-2 is supported at the surface. Head 32 is raised when tubing string T-2 is lifted. The one-way locking means 2t) allows the lifting of tubular support 12 through the upper abutment and locks tubular support 12 against downward movement with respect to upper abutment 14. The tension developed in second tubing string T-2 is transmitted by the force transmitting means F and tubular support 10 into an upward force on lower expander 54 to secure the wedging action of lower expander 54 on gripping elements S2 and thereby resist upward movement of the well packer.

With the well packer in set position, pressure differentials from above or below the packing assembly are transmitted to the anchoring assembly A to wedge the gripping elements 52 in tight pipe-gripping engagement with the casing C and thus prevent movement of the well packer in both directions. Upward forces on the packing assembly P are exerted on the upper abutment 14 and are transmitted through the one-way locking means 18 and 2f), the tubular supports 10 and 12 and the'force transmitting means F to urge the lower expander 54 upwardly under the gripping elements 52. Downward forces on the packing assembly P are transmitted directly to the upper expander 48 to urge the upper expander 43 downwardly under the gripping elements 52 thus assuring that the anchoring assembly A holds against movement.

The release of the well packer is accomplished by rotation of the rst tubing string T-1 in a direction, normally right-hand with a left-hand threaded connection of release means R. This rotates the tubular support 10 within the well packer. The teeth of the locking slips 24 of the one-way locking means 18 extend in a general circumferential direction around the tubular support 10 to allow the rotation of tubular support 10 within upper abutment 14. Such rotation causes the releasing means R to be actuated and moves the lower abutment 15 (lower expander 54) downwardly out from under the gripping elements 52. Thereafter, a lifting of tubular support 1f) causes shoulder 68 and 70 to engage upper expander 48 to move it out from under gripping slips 52. With the wedging of the expanders removed from under gripping slips 52, they are free to withdraw from pipe-gripping position. The compression on the packing elements 4.2 moves the upper abutment 14 upwardly with tubular support to unset the packing assembly P. The well packer is then completely released and may be removed from the well bore.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides an improved mechanically set and released dual-production well packer having a force transmitting means which eliminates the problem of cocking of the well packer, having an anchoring assembly which holds against longitudinal movement in both directions and allowing both of the tubing strings to be hung in tension when the well packer is set.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A well tool adapted to be lowered and set within a dual-production well pipe comprising a first tubular support,

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment surrounding said tubular supports,

a lower abutment surrounding said tubular supports,

an anchoring assembly including gripping elements mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments,

the setting of said anchoring assembly moving said gripping elements outwardly into pipe-gripping engagement with said well pipe to hold against longitudinal movement in both directions, locking means mounted on one of said abutments er1- gaging said tubular supports to allow relative movement of said one abutment toward the other of said abutments and prevent relative movement of said one abutment away from said other abutment,

means releasably connecting the other of said abutments to one of said tubular supports, and

means secured to the other of said tubular supports and adapted to engage said one of said abutments to move said one of said abutments responsive to movement of said other of said tubular supports toward the other of said abutments to set said anchoring assembly.

2. A well tool according to claim 1 including means connecting said tubular supports and forming a force transmitting means to at least partially equalize the tension forces between said tubular supports.

3. A well tool according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means is positioned on said tubular supports outside of said abutments.

4. A well tool according to claim 1 including a packing assembly mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments,

relative movement of said one of said abutments toward said other abutment setting said packing assembly into sealing engagement with said weil pipe.

5. A well tool according to claim 1 wherein said engaging means includes a head secured to said other of said tubular supports,

and

means releasably attaching said head to said one of said tubular supports.

6. A well tool according to claim 1 wherein said locking means includes locking slips having teeth engaging said tubular sup ports,

said teeth extending in a generally circumferential direction with respect to said tubular supports to allow rotation of said one of said tubular supports to actuate said releasing means.

7. A well tool according to claim 6 wherein said teeth of said locking slips are directed in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of said one of said abutments to lock said well tool in set position until positively released yby said releasing means.

8. A well packer adapted to be lowered and set within a dual-production well pipe comprising a rst tubular support,

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment mounted on said. tubular supports,

one-way locking means on said upper abutment engaging said tubular supports to prevent downward movement of said tubular supports through said upper abutment,

means secured to said second tubular support and adapted to engage said upper abutment to move said upper abutment downward into set position responsive to a downward movement of said second tubular support,

a lower abutment mounted on said tubular supports in sliding engagement with said second tubular support and releasably secured to said. iirst tubular support and spaced longitudinally on said tubular supports from said upper abutment,

an anchoring assembly including gripping elements mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments,

the setting of said anchoring assembly moving said gripping elements outwardly into pipe-gripping engagement with said well pipe to hold against longitudinal movement in both directions, and

force transmitting means connecting said tubular supports at a position below said lower abutment to at least partially equalize the tension forces between said tubular supports.

9. A well tool according to claim 8 including a packing assembly mounted on said tubular supports between said abutments,

relative movement of said one of said abutments toward said other abutment setting said packing assembly into sealing engagement with said well pipe.

10. A well tool accor-ding to claim 8 wherein said means secured to said second tubular support is releasably secured to said rst tubular support to hold said well tool in running position until positively set.

11. A well tool according to claim 8 wherein said means secured to said second tubular supports include a head secured to said second tubular support and surrounding said tirst tubular support, and

a shear pin releasably connecting said head to said first tubular support.

12. A well tool according to claim 8 wherein said force transmitting means includes an upwardly facing shoulder on said second tubular support below said lower abutment,

a plate surrounding said tubular supports below said lower abutment and engaging said shoulder on said second tubular support, and

means on said rst tubular support urging said plate downwardly onto said shoulder whereby tension forces in second tubular support are transmitted by said plate to said first tubular support.

13. A well `tool according to claim 12 wherein said means on said rst tubular support includes external threads on said tirst tubular support, and

a nut in threaded engagement with said threads on said rst tubular support and engaging said plate where tightening of said nut urges said plate into firm engagement with said shoulder on said second tubular support.

14. A well tool according to claim 12 wherein said second tubular support is freely slidable down through said plate for setting of said packing and anchoring assemblies.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 Myers 166-189 X Brown 166-119 Brown et al. 166-189 X Sizer 16'6-189 X Brown 166-189 X JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primaly Examiner. 

1. A WELL TOOL ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED AND SET WITHIN A DUAL-PRODUCTION WELL PIPE COMPRISING A FIRST TUBULAR SUPPORT, A SECOND TUBULAR SUPPORT, AN UPPER ABUTMENT SURROUNDING SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS, A LOWER ABUTMENT SURROUNDING SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS, AN ANCHORING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING GRIPPING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENTS, THE SETTING OF SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY MOVING SAID GRIPPING ELEMENTS OUTWARDLY INTO PIPE-GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WELL PIPE TO HOLD AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID ABUTMENTS ENGAGINE SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS TO ALLOW RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ABUTMENT TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID ABUTMENTS AND PREVENT RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ABUTMENT AWAY FROM SAID OTHER ABUTMENT, 